Saturday, March 26, 2011

Dolphins receive seventh-round compensatory selection

The Miami Dolphins have picked up an extra seventh-round pick in next month's 2011 NFL Draft as a result of players lost via free agency in the 2010 offseason. The NFL annually hands out a total of 32 compensatory picks between rounds three and seven prior to every draft.

Two of the Dolphins' unrestricted free agents signed elsewhere, with cornerback Nathan Jones joining the Denver Broncos and linebacker Jason Taylor heading to the New York Jets. Jones totaled 57 tackles in 15 games (three starts), while Taylor racked up 36 tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles in New York.

The Dolphins now have a total of eight picks in 2011, including three seventh-round selections. Here is the full list:

Round 1, Pick 15

Round 3, Pick 79

Round 4, Pick 111

Round 5, Pick 146

Round 6, Pick 179

Round 7, Pick 216

Round 7, Pick 217 (from Jacksonville for Justin Smiley)

Round 7, Pick 234 (compensatory selection)

The Dolphins are currently without their second-round pick (46th overall), having traded it to the Denver Broncos an offseason ago to acquire wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

However, the Dolphins are likely to explore all options in trading down from the No. 15 spot in the first round and potentially picking up a new second-round pick.

As for 2012, the Dolphins have the opportunity to pick up multiple compensatory selections depending how how potential free agents like Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, Tony McDaniel, Chad Pennington, Tyler Thigpen, Patrick Cobbs, Pat McQuistan, and others do next season.

Starting jobs elsewhere and good production from someone like McDaniel and at least one of the running backs would likely net the Dolphins multiple picks, likely higher than the seventh round.